Three groups of children with dyslexia (mean ages 8, 13, and 17 years)
and three groups of normally achieving children matched for age and I
Q with the dyslexic groups undertook three tests of motor skill. For p
eg placing and articulation rate, the children with dyslexia were sign
ificantly slower than their chronological age controls, and equivalent
to their reading age controls. For bead threading, they were signific
antly slower than even their reading age controls. The results suggest
that children with dyslexia have persistent, and unexpectedly severe,
problems in motor skill.